walked with me in the garden, and they both tell me that my
Lord Sandwich is called home, and that he do grow more and more in
esteem everywhere, and is better spoken of, which I am mighty glad of,
though I know well enough his deserving the same before, and did foresee
that it will come to it. In mighty great pain in my back still, but I
perceive it changes its place, and do not trouble me at all in making of
water, and that is my joy, so that I believe it is nothing but a strain,
and for these three or four days I perceive my overworking of my eyes
by candlelight do hurt them as it did the last winter, that by day I am
well and do get them right, but then after candlelight they begin to be
sore and run, so that I intend to get some green spectacles.

14th. Up, and very well again of my pain in my back, it having been
nothing but cold. By coach to White Hall, seeing many smokes of the fire
by the way yet, and took up into the coach with me a country gentleman,
who asked me room to go with me, it being dirty--one come out of the
North to see his son, after the burning his house: a merchant. Here
endeavoured to wait on the Duke of York, but he would not stay from the
Parliament. So I to Westminster Hall, and there met my good friend Mr.
Evelyn, and walked with him a good while, lamenting our condition
for want of good council, and the King's minding of his business and
servants. I out to the Bell Taverne, and thither comes Doll to me....,
and after an hour's stay, away and staid in Westminster Hall till the
rising of the house, having told Mr. Evelyn, and he several others, of
my Gazette which I had about me that mentioned in April last a plot
for which several were condemned of treason at the Old Bayly for many
things, and among others for a design of burning the city on the 3rd
of September. The house sat till three o'clock, and then up: and I home
with Sir Stephen Fox to his house to dinner, and the Cofferer with us.
There I find Sir S. Fox's lady, a fine woman, and seven the prettiest
children of theirs that ever I knew almost. A very genteel dinner, and
in great state and fashion, and excellent discourse; and nothing like an
old experienced man and a courtier, and such is the Cofferer Ashburnham.
The House have been mighty hot to-day against the Paper Bill, showing
all manner of averseness to give the King money; which these courtiers
do take mighty notice of, and look upon the others as bad rebells as
ever the last